The SNP are desperate to talk down the chances of a Labour Government. It only reveals how unhappy they are that the Tories look to be headed for defeat.
Spot on as usual Blair. Just a couple of points about the SNP's referendum which I don't think non-nationalists make enough of.
In the first instance the word "independence" is too vague to carry an important decision for a country. There are many kinds of independence and no country is or could be completely independent of other countries.
Ant referendum campaign would, like 2014, revolve largely around our future relationship with the UK, particularly the economic one. It is totally wrong for voters to be committed to leaving purely on the basis of promises made by nationalists in order to win a referendum. Brexit showed this beyond doubt. There must therefore be a confirmatory vote on withdrawal terms.
There are other issues about timing and the desire in Scotland for another constitutional vote. In view of our economic plight it can hardly be described as a priority unless flag-waving is your only hobby.
Agree with much of the above but I don’t think we can be quite so dismissive of the SNP. The polling suggests that the number of seats Labour may take in Scotland may be determinative of the ability of Keir Starmer to command a majority. Scottish seats could make a fundamental impact on the ability to evict the Tories and to govern sustainably for a full term. All the more reason to apply as much resource as possible to winning vulnerable Scottish seats. As Ian Murray has long said , the road to a Labour government runs through Scotland.
Spot on as usual Blair. Just a couple of points about the SNP's referendum which I don't think non-nationalists make enough of.
In the first instance the word "independence" is too vague to carry an important decision for a country. There are many kinds of independence and no country is or could be completely independent of other countries.
Ant referendum campaign would, like 2014, revolve largely around our future relationship with the UK, particularly the economic one. It is totally wrong for voters to be committed to leaving purely on the basis of promises made by nationalists in order to win a referendum. Brexit showed this beyond doubt. There must therefore be a confirmatory vote on withdrawal terms.
There are other issues about timing and the desire in Scotland for another constitutional vote. In view of our economic plight it can hardly be described as a priority unless flag-waving is your only hobby.
Agree with much of the above but I don’t think we can be quite so dismissive of the SNP. The polling suggests that the number of seats Labour may take in Scotland may be determinative of the ability of Keir Starmer to command a majority. Scottish seats could make a fundamental impact on the ability to evict the Tories and to govern sustainably for a full term. All the more reason to apply as much resource as possible to winning vulnerable Scottish seats. As Ian Murray has long said , the road to a Labour government runs through Scotland.